David A. Rosen - Helping People and Businesses Achieve Remarkable Results...

Rosen Family - July 4th Pictures - 2010

Great Holiday Weekend.  Here is a summary of July 4th at our beach house in Long Branch, NJ  Including a sample of the fireworks at night.

July 4th Pictures - 2010.

Now its back to work...  Regards,  David

Popular Science - Why do you accept Advertising from Tobacco Companies?

I just opened the second Popular Science magazine, in my 11 year old's new subscription.  What did I find, but a..

BIG double sided, thick cardboard Advertisement for CIGARETTES in the middle of the magazine!

I was shocked!  How could a magazine that lifts the spirits of imagination and innovation of children and adults allow this to happen?  I can't remember the last time I saw a tobacco ad.   Aren't they illegal?

Apparently not.  Nixon's administration first banned Tobacco Advertising, but mainly for TV (Learn more...)  It started in 1971 and seems to be the main drive towards stemming advertising for tobacco. Here is another source explaining the 1996 Regulations.

There are new laws being put in place (see the Washington Post  http://bit.ly/ddrntI) that stiffly regulate where tobacco ads can be placed (including certain distances from schools), what they can use for imagery and visuals, but there is no ban on how they can be employed in Magazine. But these laws appear to be weak and could be overturned in court.

Smoking is addictive and is attributed to more than 450,000 deaths a year.  So, I just can't understand why a magazine like Popular Science (Owned by Bonnier Group) would allow tobacco to advertise. 

My assumption (and I haven't researched it) is that their readership is mainly in the 15-25 age group.  Look at the vast array of household name magazines they publish here(  (There are restrictions against advertising to age groups under 18 I believe).  The readers in my opinion turn to the Magazine to see what is new and cool and provides ideas for engineers, geeks, gadget freaks, technophiles, and others to dream... the last thing we want them to do is to think about smoking.

Please write to Popular Science and Bonnier and urge them to not accept advertising from Tobacco companies. 

Let people dream on how to extend life, not shorten it.

Brighten My Day... A jolt of Kindness from My Son

I am usually known as intense, assertive, thoughtful, innovative outcome/results oriented.  These are great characteristics, but it takes sometimes an unnerving sense of focus and deep-dive to accomplish.

Its Thursday and I am working on two major proposals, with two different teams and in one of my "communications black-out" modes.  (My friend John Gantz, the Chief Research Officer of IDC came up with this term.  It implies that you dont answer phones, emails, and minimize meetings and food to get work done).

However, I came up for air and opened an email from my 10 year old son.   The email he sent was a custom card from www.PBSKids.org.  Here is the link:  http://pbskids.org/sesame/#/ecards

I just opened my mouth and laughed out-loud.  A warm feeling came over me, my shoulders loosened up and I felt calm for the first time this week. 

When I started blogging I told myself that I would focus on  topics of business or topics of significance and not speak to personal issues.  However, as a good leader, business person, and advisor helping other to create change, I can't ignore the value of my personal life. 

I am not sure what it was about the card that warmed my heart.  But I really enjoyed it and I felt more refreshed after reading it.  I also started hovering my mouse over the muppet characters below the card and played the musical notes for a minute (maybe two).

My lesson here is that even during communications black-outs, I will still peek at the emails from my kids.  Thank you Stephan.  You are the best. 

Have a great day.